Hello and welcome to a weekly feature on CarolinaHurricanes.com in which I take your Twitter questions about the Carolina Hurricanes or other assorted topics and answer them in mailbag form. Hopefully, the final product is insightful to some degree, and maybe we have some fun along the way.

Let’s get to it.

At what position do the Hurricanes have the greatest prospect depth? What needs will the Canes be looking to fill at the draft? – Hurricanes Boosters (@CHBCHurricanes)

In my estimation, the Canes have the greatest prospect depth at forward. Looking back as far as 2007 is Chris Terry, a fifth-round pick. A year later was first-round choice Zach Boychuk, who this year led the AHL in goals with 36. From the last three years alone, Victor Rask, Brody Sutter, Phil Di Giuseppe, Brock McGinn and Brendan Woods are developing in the wings, not to mention fifth-overall pick Elias Lindholm, who jumped right into NHL action last season.

In fact, simply looking at the Canes’ draft classes in the last two years yields good results. Despite not making a first-round pick in 2012 (which, by the way, turned into Jordan Staal), the Canes stocked the prospect cupboard with nine selections, five of which already are or will be playing in Charlotte by next season. Last summer, the Canes made just four picks but added defenseman Andrej Sekera through a second-round trade; Lindholm skated with the Canes as a rookie in 2013-14, and Brett Pesce could prove to be a solid defensive prospect in the years to come.

As far as needs go, size is never a bad thing. (Though, Sidney Crosby is 5’11”, and that’s worked out OK.) Additionally, the organization could probably use some more depth at goaltending, especially after the departure of Frederik Andersen in the summer of 2012. Andersen was originally a seventh-round pick (third-round pick by the Ducks when he re-entered the draft in 2012), so this need could be filled in the deeper rounds of the draft.

Speaking of the draft, the Hurricanes will be holding their annual scout meetings in the first week of June. CarolinaHurricanes.com will have complete coverage, both written and video, from then on, carrying you right up until the 2014 NHL Draft, which takes place on June 27-28 in Philadelphia.

At this point, that’s the extent of what we know. Loktionov, acquired in March in a trade deadline day deal with New Jersey, is a restricted free agent.

The Canes have one logo at center ice, but some teams display two logos. How did we decide to use one? – Carolyn G. (@goCanes_score)

I found this question intriguing. The Canes have featured a large logo at center ice for years, and there’s not been much consideration to change it to a Montreal-style two-logo placement. Here’s why: The main reason is that the Canes’ primary logo is tilted, while the Canadiens’ logo is horizontal. Taking into account the tilt, the Canes’ logo would be much smaller squeezed into either semi-circle at center ice. The other is that Montreal’s logo, which features a C and an H, is read with the eye quite naturally. The correct way to view the Canes’ logo, on the other hand, isn’t quite as intrinsic.

In short, the primary logo appears best as a large, dominant feature at center ice.

Aside from the RBC Center to PNC Arena transformation around the center ice circle, the Canes have had a few different center ice logos in the last six years. While the primary logo has been the main feature, the Canes have also highlighted the tenth anniversary logo (2007-08), the secondary warning flag logo when the third uniform set was unveiled (2008-09) and the All-Star logo (2010-11). You can see a history of NHL center ice designs here at this nifty site that was passed along by Jared, our ice technician.

***

Join me next week for more questions and more answers!

If you have a question you’d like answered, please do reach out to me on Twitter at @MSmithCanes.